To wonder why shoes are so expensive for toddlers

I get DDs shoes from Clarks mainly because they measure and check them and she needed a supportive shoe when learning to walk as she had slightly bendy ankles. The first few times I was buying them full price at £40 a pop but the last time I bought two pairs in the sale for the price of one.

I wouldn't worry about wellies being supportive unless he's planning to spend hours at a time wearing them?

@Devilsmommy Bought kickers high tops for dd 20 months 2 weeks ago from m&m and she won't bloody walk in them! Absolutely hates them. No idea why... She will however wear clarks, jelly sandals and m&s wellies (slower walking in these though, she was a later walker). They cost more than my every day rocket dogs from there!

I was obsessed with ds only shopping and measuring in clarks. When he hit 4 I tried other brands but he wore through them so fast... even his leather reception school shoes from m&s are badly scuffed after 5 weeks, although at least comfortable.

OP, it is October and you are buying for an 18 month old. Unless you are planning to recoup the cost of the shoes by stinting his meals, the shoes will be outgrown by spring. Do not factor spring suitability into the cost of these shoes.

If we get then we won’t get any other shoes , and won’t get spares. He will wear them until he outgrows them! They do leave plenty growing room.

Of course you shouldn't get spares. He's a toddler. You shouldn't be wasting money on "spare" shoes at this age, because all toddlers do is #grow.

Buy wellies off ebay or vinted.

We take much this approach. I won't use secondhand shoes unless they've clearly been barely worn.

We have a really great local Clarks store I must say. Our eldest is 5 and we've been going there regularly since her first pair at about 14/15 months old. She was very challenging to fit (hysterical) when younger and the staff have always been fantastic. Our youngest is 2 and has joint problems which has caused delayed walking skills and an abnormal gait, he wears orthotic boots from the hospital but also needs additional shoes too and they're great helping us with him too.

Yep. We've done a pair each today for the toddler twins... Clark's do 10% off for twins but even then I felt sick. I asked the woman how long they would usually last for at this age and she went "oh the season, so around Christmas". I thought she was joking and luckily didn't say the words in my head aloud. My lovely mum has paid for the children's shoes. But I still feel annoyed! (And grateful obv)

It is more important for a toddler to wear properly fitted shoes than an adult, though, because their feet are still growing.

I also suggest vinted or a mum2mum market? I've got loads of branded shoes for cheap and very good condition/some brand new. I don't mind them getting messy that way and he'll grow out of them fast. Ds(14 months) was also off at 10 months. Wellies took a few tries to get use too but worth it for puddles, he doesn't wear them for long though.

I also get all of my kids' shoes on vinted. I can usually sell them on as well so they cost me a fraction in the end. I've got a measurement thingy and filter for the good brands.
But I also buy all my own stuff on vinted and have always bought second hand.

I’m also minimalist with his shoes. One pair of shoes and one pair of wellies.

Bogs toddler boots might be a cheaper more suitable option for an 18 month old. The gortex boots are fab but won’t survive lots of puddle jumping and will be outgrown fast.

I have a child with awkward shaped feet. Clarks and high street shoe shops were like scenes from the Cinderella with the shop assistants trying to squeeze shoes on his feet and insist they fitted. Found an indi shoe shop eventually that had shoes that fitted properly. Now I get him fitted once a year then buy the same brands cheaper on Amazon the rest of the time.

My little one is a size 4 and I just got him some kickers boots on mandm direct supposed to be £45 I got them for £15. Won't buy secondhand but won't pay ridiculous price either

Both my kiddies each had a pair of shoes from Clarks when they first learned to walk now live in trainers and barefoot at home. I can't afford to spend £60 in a pair of shoes they'll only wear a few months before they outgrow them. Also barefoot is best for their feet anyways as much as possible.
Vinted has been amazing for really good trainers/shoes a lot are new or nearly new and have fitted my kids fine. Wellies included. Maximum I've paid so far for a pair of footwear is £6.50 for brand new without label on them Nike trainers retailing currently for £25.

Goretex ankle boots are always going to be pricy! Have you seen what the adult versions cost?

Have you tried Vinted for the same pair?

I wait for the Clarks sale whenever I can and buy that way. We're not loaded but I try to prioritise properly fitting shoes for my son and go second hand on other things, like clothes.

Look on temu or shien for kids stuff. Kids don't need to wear branded things unless they're Instagram kids

I bought a foot measurer on line and purchase shoes from Vinted. DD is a G wide fit but easy enough to get a bargain. Just got a gorgeous pair of suede Clark’s boots for £7. I do inspect the photos in detail tho for any signs of wear, if the photos aren’t good or not many of them I disregard the item. Worse case they’re no good (happened to me once) can re-sell

You need one of these at home. https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/toddler-gauge/20352422-p?source=aw&?cm_mmc=AFLT--awin--575373-_-na1&utm_source=Ceon+Internet+ApS&utm_medium=affiliates&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=575373&awc=2515_1697661814_01c28d13fee4e0fef816e0ebc96bd419 then you can buy online with confidence in the size.

I got my daughters feet measured at clarks and tried shoes on, then bought the pair I wanted from vinted for less than half price and excellent condition. Have a look on vinted for the make/style, they might be on there

I was paying over £40 25 years ago when my dd was a toddler…she had 1 pair at a time till they were outgrown. Shoes were a high priority for me, and I spent less on other clothes

Unless you're rolling in money it would be insane to spend £64 on a toddler's shoes. He may well grow out of them in 3-6 months.

I recommend these for wellies
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Light-Wellington-Wellies-Liners/dp/B00STIRK76/ref=asc_df_B00STIRK76/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=345472269288&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7938203973585173610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9041090&hvtargid=pla-637086486420&psc=1
they are really light, the lining helps them stay on and they are warm for winter. They are also quite hard wearing. My children wore these more or less as soon as they could walk so your son will be fine if he's been walking for a while already

We usually get ours measured somewhere reliable, but then buy online, particularly Clarks outlet online.

When my DD was 18 months old I had the same problems with wellies, even though she’d been walking for several months. But once her feet were big enough for them, she managed fine in Crocs wellies- think they start at size 6 though. They’re sometimes on offer for around £20 and are lightweight and not too clunky.

My little girl has cerebral palsy we got all her baby and toddler shoes from vertbaudet they do fab shoes and boots with good ankle support

I don't compromise on toddler shoes - though I haven't had a problem with wellies and I don't think they need to be as supportive if not spending a long time running and climbing in them. But I do get shoes properly fitted and go to a trained fitter. She explained exactly why certain kinds of shoes fit my DC and others don't. However, the shoes are about £50 a pair and his feet grow ridiculously fast. So where I do compromise is that I measure at home too, buy the same brand and model online when I can find the right size in last year's colours discounted, and take him back to the independent shop every second pair. So I get the reassurance of a proper fit and to support the local business 50% of the time.

I also don't use second hand toddler shoes as they will be moulded to another child's feet and could influence his gait - he has second hand everything else though! Would use second hand wellies though.